Device, system, and method of selectively activating a wireless network connection

ABSTRACT

Device, system, and method of selectively activating a wireless network connection. In some demonstrative embodiments, a mobile device may include a wireless network communication unit capable of communicating with an access-point over a wireless network connection; a personal-area-network communication unit capable of communicating with one or more other mobile devices over one or more wireless personal-area-network connections, respectively; and a communication controller to mediate communications between the mobile devices and the access point when the wireless network connection is active, and to communicate with the access-point via at least one of the personal-area-network connections when the wireless network connection is not active. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

BACKGROUND

A mobile device may include a Wireless Local-Area-Network (WLAN)communication unit to communicate with an Access-Point (AP) of a WLAN,e.g., a mobile hotspot; and a Personal-Area-Network (PAN) communicationunit to locally communicate with one or more peripheral devices, e.g.,mice, keyboards, or displays, and the like.

In order to maintain a connection to the WLAN, the mobile device mustkeep the WLAN communication unit active, which may consume a relativelylarge amount of power. In order to reduce power consumption, a user ofthe mobile device may manually disable the WLAN communication unit.However, disabling the WLAN communication unit will result indisconnecting the mobile device from the WLAN.

Some mobile devices implement power-save modes to significantly reducepower consumption. However, even the power-save modes may require theWLAN communication unit to be at least partially active, e.g., to employa carrier-sense multiple-access (CSMA) mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in thefigures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to otherelements for clarity of presentation. Furthermore, reference numeralsmay be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogouselements. The figures are listed below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a system inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments;

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are a sequence of three respective communicationschemes, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic flow-chart illustration of a method of selectivelyactivating a wireless network connection in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments.However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the artthat some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, unitsand/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscurethe discussion.

Discussions herein utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing,”“computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “establishing”, “analyzing”,“checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) ofa computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or otherelectronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform datarepresented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within thecomputer's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computer's registersand/or memories or other information storage medium that may storeinstructions to perform operations and/or processes.

The terms “plurality” and “a plurality” as used herein include, forexample, “multiple” or “two or more”. For example, “a plurality ofitems” includes two or more items.

Although portions of the discussion herein relate, for demonstrativepurposes, to wired links and/or wired communications, embodiments of theinvention are not limited in this regard, and may include one or morewired or wireless links, may utilize one or more components of wirelesscommunication, may utilize one or more methods or protocols of wirelesscommunication, or the like. Some embodiments may utilize wiredcommunication and/or wireless communication.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with various devices andsystems, for example, a Personal Computer (PC), a desktop computer, amobile computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tabletcomputer, a server computer, a handheld computer, a handheld device, aPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a handheld PDA device, anon-board device, an off-board device, a hybrid device, a vehiculardevice, a non-vehicular device, a mobile or portable device, anon-mobile or non-portable device, a wireless communication station, awireless communication device, a wireless Access Point (AP), a wired orwireless router, a wired or wireless modem, a wired or wireless network,a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless LAN (WLAN), a Metropolitan AreaNetwork (MAN), a Wireless MAN (WMAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), aWireless WAN (WWAN), a Personal Area Network (PAN), a Wireless PAN(WPAN), devices and/or networks operating in accordance with existingIEEE 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.16, 802.16d,802.16e, 802.20, 802.21 standards and/or future versions and/orderivatives of the above standards, units and/or devices which are partof the above networks, one way and/or two-way radio communicationsystems, cellular radio-telephone communication systems, a cellulartelephone, a wireless telephone, a Personal Communication Systems (PCS)device, a PDA device which incorporates a wireless communication device,a mobile or portable Global Positioning System (GPS) device, a devicewhich incorporates a GPS receiver or transceiver or chip, a device whichincorporates an RFID element or chip, a Multiple Input Multiple Output(MIMO) transceiver or device, a Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO)transceiver or device, a Multiple Input Single Output (MISO) transceiveror device, a device having one or more internal antennas and/or externalantennas, Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) devices or systems,multi-standard radio devices or systems, a wired or wireless handhelddevice (e.g., BlackBerry, Palm Treo), a Wireless Application Protocol(WAP) device, or the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one or more types ofwireless communication signals and/or systems, for example, RadioFrequency (RF), Infra Red (IR), Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM),Orthogonal FDM (OFDM), Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM), Time-DivisionMultiple Access (TDMA), Extended TDMA (E-TDMA), General Packet RadioService (GPRS), extended GPRS, Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA),Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA 2000, single-carrier CDMA, multi-carrierCDMA, Multi-Carrier Modulation (MDM), Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT),Bluetooth (RTM), Global Positioning System (GPS), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, ZigBee(TM), Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Global System for Mobile communication(GSM), 2 G, 2.5 G, 3 G, 3.5 G, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution(EDGE), or the like. Other embodiments may be used in various otherdevices, systems and/or networks.

Reference is made to FIG. 1, which schematically illustrates a blockdiagram of a system 100 in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

System 100 includes, for example, a plurality of mobile devices, e.g.,mobile devices 102, 106 and/or 116.

Mobile devices 102, 106 and 116 include, for example, a laptop computer,a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a PDA device, a cellular phone,a mobile phone, a hybrid device, e.g., combining cellular phonefunctionalities with PDA device functionalities, a relatively smallcomputing device, a “smart-phone”, a non-desktop computer, a portabledevice, a handheld device, a “Carry Small Live Large” (CSLL) device, anUltra Mobile Device (UMD), an Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC), a Mobile InternetDevice (MID), an “Origami” device or computing device, a device thatsupports Dynamically Composable Computing (DCC), a context-aware device,or the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, system 100 may also include anAccess-Point (AP), e.g., a mobile hotspot, to communicate with one ormore of mobile devices 102, 106 and/or 116 over a wireless network,e.g., a WLAN or a WWAN. For example, one or more of mobile devices 102,106 and 116 may include a WLAN or WWAN communication module tocommunicate with AP 104 over one or more wireless LAN or WWANconnections. In one example, mobile device 102 may include a WLANcommunication unit 118 capable of communicating with AP 104 over a WLANconnection 108; and mobile device 106 may include a WLAN communicationunit 124 capable of communicating with AP 104 over a WLAN connection110. In one example, WLAN communication units 118 and 124 may include aradio unit in accordance with “IEEE-Std 802.11, 1999 Edition (ISO/IEC8802-11: 1999)” standard (“the IEEE 802.11 standard”), and moreparticularly “IEEE-Std 802.11n Supplement to ANSI/IEEE Std 802.11,September 1999, Standard for Enhancements for Higher Throughput” (“theIEEE 802.11n standard”). In another example, WLAN communication units118 and 124 may include any other suitable WLAN hardware and/orsoftware, e.g., in accordance with “IEEE Std 802.11b-1999, “Part 11:Wireless LAN medium access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY)specifications: High-speed physical layer extension in the 2.4 GHz band,Supplement to ANSI/IEEE Std 802.11, September 1999” (“the IEEE 802.11bstandard”).

In some demonstrative embodiments mobile devices 102 106, and 116 may becapable of communicating with one another over one or more PANconnections. For example, mobile device 102 may include a PANcommunication unit 122, and mobile device 106 may include a PANcommunication unit 126 to communicate with one another over a PANconnection 112. Mobile device 102 may also communicate with mobiledevice 116, for example, over a PAN connection 114. PAN communicationunits 122 and/or 126 may include, fore example, a UWB communicationunit, and/or any other suitable Pan hardware and/or software, e.g., aBluetooth communication unit.

Mobile devices 102, 106 and/or 116 include, for example, a processor134; an internal memory 136, e.g., a Random Access Memory (RAM); aninternal storage 138, e.g., a hard disk drive; an integrated input unit130, e.g., a keyboard and/or a touch-pad integrated within a housing orbody of mobile device 102; and/or an integrated output 132, e.g., adisplay or screen.

In some demonstrative embodiments, WLAN communication units 118 and/or124 may have relatively high power consumption compared, for example, toPAN communication units 122 and/or 126, respectively.

In some demonstrative embodiments, mobile devices 102, 106 and/or 116may be capable of conserving power by sharing WLAN connections 108and/or 110, for example, by selectively maintaining a single WLANconnection, e.g., connection 108 or 110, to AP 104, while using PANconnections 112 and/or 114 to maintain connectivity between mobiledevices 102, 106 and 116, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a mobile device of mobile devices102, 106 and 116 (“the master mobile device”) may maintain a LANconnection to AP 104. At least one other mobile device (“the salvemobile device”) may communicate with AP 104 via a respective PANconnection with the master mobile device, while the master mobile devicemediates communications between the slave mobile device and AP 104,e.g., as described below. Accordingly, the slave mobile device mayde-activate its LAN communication unit, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the slave mobile device mayselectively activate the LAN communication unit to directly communicatewith AP 104, e.g., if the slave mobile device requires a high-bandwidthchannel to AP 104. In one example, the slave mobile device may act as aslave device communicating with AP 104 via the PAN connection with themaster mobile device, e.g., when a user of the mobile device is casuallybrowsing web pages. The slave mobile device may switch to communicatedirectly with AP 104 via a direct LAN connection, e.g., when starting afile download, thereby switching to act as a second master mobiledevice. The first master mobile device may switch to communicate with AP104 via the second master mobile device, e.g., if the first mastermobile device does not actively need its LAN connection. In anotherexample, a group of mobile devices, e.g., a group including mobiledevices 102, 106 and/or 116, may cooperatively rotate a designation of amobile device of the group to act as the master mobile device, e.g., inorder to distribute the power savings among the mobile devices of thegroup.

In some demonstrative embodiments, mobile device 102 may include acommunication controller 120 to mediate communications between mobiledevice 106 and/or 116 and AP 104, e.g., when WLAN connection 108 isactive; and to communicate with AP 104 via at least one of PANconnections 112 and 114 when WLAN connection 108 is not active.Communication controller 120 may be implemented using any suitablesoftware and/or hardware. For example, communication controller 120 maybe implemented as part of a Media-Access-Controller (MAC) and/or aPhysical layer (PHY) of mobile device 102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, mobile device 102 may selectivelyactivate or de-activate WLAN connection 108, e.g., by powering-on orpowering-off WLAN communication unit 118, based on a bandwidth of anintended communication between mobile device 102 and AP 104 (“therequired bandwidth”).

In some demonstrative embodiments, mobile device 102 may activate WLANconnection 108 if the required bandwidth is greater than a bandwidth ofPAN connections 112 and/or 114. For example, communication controller120 may power-on WLAN communication unit 118 in order to activate WLANconnection 108.

In some demonstrative embodiments, mobile device 102 may de-activateWLAN connection 108 if the required bandwidth is lower than thebandwidth of PAN connections, e.g., 112 and/or 114. For example,communication controller 120 may power-off WLAN communication unit 118in order to de-activate WLAN connection 108.

In some demonstrative embodiments, mobile device 102 may communicatewith AP 104 via mobile device 106, for example, mobile device 106 mayact as a master mobile device communicating with AP 104 via WLANconnection 110, and mobile device 102 may communicate with mobile device106 via PAN connection 112, e.g., when WLAN connection 108 is notactive. Mobile device 102 may activate WLAN connection 108 tocommunicate directly with AP 104. When WLAN connection 108 is active,mobile device 102 may mediate communications between mobile devices 106and 114 and AP 104 over WLAN connection 108.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, which illustrate asequence of three respective communication schemes, in accordance withsome demonstrative embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 2A, a first mobile device 202 may communicate with anAP 212 via a WLAN connection 214. Mobile device 202 may act as a mastermobile device to mediate communications between AP 212 and a secondmobile device 204 and a third mobile device 206. Mobile device 204 maycommunicate with mobile device 202 via a PAN connection 208, and mobiledevice 206 may communicate with mobile device 202 via a PAN connection210. A WLAN communication unit of mobile device 204 and/or mobile device206 may be powered-off.

As shown in FIG. 2B, mobile device 204 may power-on the WLANcommunication unit of mobile device 204 to activate a direct WLANconnection 216 with communicate with AP 212, e.g., to ensure ahigh-bandwidth link to the internet. Mobile device 202 may continuecommunicating with AP 212 via WLAN connection 214, and/or to mediatecommunications between mobile device 206 and AP 212.

As shown in FIG. 2C, mobile device 202 may power-off the WLANcommunication unit of mobile device 202, e.g., to conserve power. Mobiledevice 204 may act as the master mobile device to mediate communicationsbetween AP 212 and mobile devices 202 and 206. For example, mobiledevice 202 may communicate with mobile device 204 via PAN connection208, and mobile device 206 may communicate with mobile device 204 via aPAN connection 218.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which schematically illustrates amethod of FIG. 3 is a selectively activating a wireless networkconnection in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. In somenon-limiting embodiments, one or more operations of FIG. 3 may beperformed by mobile devices 102 (FIG. 1), 106 (FIG. 1) and/or 116 (FIG.1).

As indicated at block 304, the method may include using a mobile deviceto mediate communications between one or more other mobile devices andan AP by communicating with the AP over a WLAN connection andcommunicating with the one or more mobile devices over one or more PANconnections, respectively.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the method of may include selectivelyactivating or de-activating the WLAN connection based on a bandwidth ofan intended communication between the mobile device and the AP, e.g., asdescribed below.

As indicated at block 306, the method may include determining whetherthe required bandwidth is lower than a bandwidth of the PAN connections.

As indicated at block 308, the method may include de-activating the WLANconnection, e.g., if the required bandwidth is lower than the bandwidthof the PAN connections.

As indicated at block 310, the method may include communicating with theAP via at least one of the PAN connections, e.g., when the WLANconnection is not active.

As indicated at block 312, the method may include determining whetherthe required bandwidth is greater than a bandwidth of the PANconnections.

As indicated at block 302, the method may include activating the WLANconnection if the required bandwidth is greater than the bandwidth ofthe PAN connections.

Other operations or sets of operations may be used in accordance withsome embodiments.

Some embodiments, for example, may take the form of an entirely hardwareembodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment includingboth hardware and software elements. Some embodiments may be implementedin software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, residentsoftware, microcode, or the like.

Furthermore, some embodiments may take the form of a computer programproduct accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable mediumproviding program code for use by or in connection with a computer orany instruction execution system. For example, a computer-usable orcomputer-readable medium may be or may include any apparatus that cancontain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for useby or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice.

In some embodiments, the medium may be an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus ordevice) or a propagation medium. Some demonstrative examples of acomputer-readable medium may include a semiconductor or solid statememory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random accessmemory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk, and/or anoptical disk. Some demonstrative examples of optical disks includecompact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write(CD-R/W), and DVD.

In some embodiments, a data processing system suitable for storingand/or executing program code may include at least one processor coupleddirectly or indirectly to memory elements, for example, through a systembus. The memory elements may include, for example, local memory employedduring actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cachememories which may provide temporary storage of at least some programcode in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved frombulk storage during execution.

In some embodiments, input/output or I/O devices (including but notlimited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) may be coupledto the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers. Insome embodiments, network adapters may be coupled to the system toenable the data processing system to become coupled to other dataprocessing systems or remote printers or storage devices, for example,through intervening private or public networks. In some embodiments,modems, cable modems and Ethernet cards are demonstrative examples oftypes of network adapters. Other suitable components may be used.

Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein withreference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may beutilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations,components and/or features described herein with reference to one ormore other embodiments, or vice versa.

While certain features have been illustrated and described herein, manymodifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur tothose skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that theappended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changesas fall within the true spirit of the invention.

1. A mobile device comprising: a wireless network communication unitcapable of communicating with an access-point over a wireless networkconnection; a personal-area-network communication unit capable ofcommunicating with one or more other mobile devices over one or morewireless personal-area-network connections; and a communicationcontroller to mediate communications between said mobile devices andsaid access point when said wireless network connection is active, andto communicate with said access-point via at least one of saidpersonal-area-network connections when said wireless network connectionis not active.
 2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein said wirelessnetwork communication unit comprises a local-area-network communicationunit, and wherein said wireless network connection comprises a wirelesslocal-area-network connection.
 3. The mobile device of claim 2, whereinsaid mobile device is to selectively activate or de-activate saidwireless local-area-network connection based on a bandwidth of anintended communication between said mobile device and said access-point.4. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein said mobile device is to poweroff said local-area-network communication unit when communicating withsaid access-point via said personal-area-network connections.
 5. Themobile device of claim 1, wherein a bandwidth of said wireless networkconnection is greater than a bandwidth of said personal-area-networkconnection, and wherein a power consumption of said mobile device, whencommunicating with said access-point via said personal-area-connection,is lower than a power consumption of said mobile device, whencommunicating with the access-point via the wireless network connection.6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein said one or more other mobiledevices comprise first and second mobile devices, and wherein saidmobile device is to communicate with said access-point via said firstmobile device, activate said wireless network connection to communicatedirectly with said access-point, and mediate communications between saidfirst and second mobile devices and said access point over said wirelessnetwork connection.
 7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein said one ormore personal-area-network connections comprise an ultra-widebandconnection.
 8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein said mobile devicecomprises a device selected from the group consisting of: a cellularphone, a handheld device, a wireless communication device, and apersonal-digital-assistant device, a smart phone, andultra-mobile-device.
 9. A method comprising: mediating communicationsbetween one or more mobile devices and an access point by communicatingwith said access-point over a wireless network connection andcommunicating with said one or more mobile devices over one or morepersonal-area-network connections, respectively; and when said wirelessnetwork connection is not active, communicating with said access-pointvia at least one of said personal-area-network connections.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein said wireless network connection comprises awireless local-area-network connection.
 11. The method of claim 10comprising selectively activating or de-activating said wirelesslocal-area-network connection based on a bandwidth of an intendedcommunication between said mobile device and said access-point.
 12. Themethod of claim 10 comprising powering off said local-area-networkcommunication unit when communicating with said access-point via saidpersonal-area-network connections.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein abandwidth of said wireless network connection is greater than abandwidth of said personal-area-network connection, and wherein a powerconsumption when communicating with said access-point via saidpersonal-area-connection, is lower than a power consumption, whencommunicating with the access-point via the wireless network connection.14. The method of claim 9, wherein said one or more other mobile devicescomprise first and second mobile devices, the method comprising:communicating with said access-point via said first mobile device;activating said wireless network connection to communicate directly withsaid access-point; and mediating communications between said accesspoint and said first and second mobile devices over said wirelessnetwork connection.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein said mobiledevice comprises a device selected from the group consisting of: acellular phone, a handheld device, a wireless communication device, anda personal-digital-assistant device, a smart phone, andultra-mobile-device.